It is 7am, the kettle is on, and you have about four minutes before you need to leave. Or it is 11pm after a long day, and the last thing you want is a ten-step ritual. That is exactly where most skincare routines quietly fall apart, and it is why ZO Skin Health starts its whole system with something deliberately unglamorous: getting skin ready.
This guide explains what ZO means by Getting Skin Ready, the three ZO protocols for different skin types, how to use each product morning and evening, and which of those products are listed on the Faces client portal, with the prices we saw on 12 November 2026. If you are new to the brand, start with our overview, ZO Skin Health UK: how Dr Obagi’s system works, then come back here to build the first step.
What is ZO Skin Health Getting Skin Ready?
Getting Skin Ready, often shortened to GSR, is the first of ZO’s three steps (Getting Skin Ready, Prevent + Correct, and Protect). On its official Getting Skin Ready page, ZO describes it as a simple protocol of cleansing, exfoliating and toning that it calls “the essential first step”. In ZO’s words, the protocol is designed to remove surface oil, make-up and pollutants, start renewal of the skin’s upper layers to improve texture, and help the products that follow work as intended.
Put simply: cleanse, exfoliate, tone, and do it consistently. ZO’s founder, Dr Zein Obagi, is described on the brand’s UK About page as a dermatologist and the company’s founder and medical director. ZO calls its range “medical-grade”, which is brand language rather than a UK certification, so treat it as a description of positioning, not a guarantee.
None of the products in this guide are prescription medicines. They are cosmetic cleansers, scrubs, toners and pads.
The three ZO Getting Skin Ready protocols
ZO publishes three versions of the routine, each built from one cleanser, one exfoliator and one toner. Here is how they line up, alongside what we found on Faces.
| Skin type | Cleanse | Exfoliate | Tone |
|---|---|---|---|
| All skin types | Gentle Cleanser | Exfoliating Polish | Complexion Renewal Pads |
| Oily and blemish-prone | Exfoliating Cleanser | Dual Action Scrub | Oil Control Pads |
| Dry and sensitised | Hydrating Cleanser (not currently listed on Faces) | Exfoliating Polish | Calming Toner |
ZO notes that its all-skin-types routine covers the most common concerns, but not those specific to sensitised, very dry, very oily or blemish-prone skin. That is why the other two protocols exist. If you are unsure which camp you fall into, a skin consultation is the quickest way to find out.
Step 1: cleanse
The ZO Skin Health Gentle Cleanser 200mL (£40.78 on Faces on 12 November 2026) is the cleanser in ZO’s all-skin-types protocol. ZO describes it as a silky gel gentle enough for all skin types that removes oil, make-up and other impurities (official product information).
For oilier, breakout-prone skin, ZO swaps in the Exfoliating Cleanser 200mL (£40.78), which it describes as a purifying gel with both physical and chemical exfoliation. Because it already exfoliates, it is worth being careful about layering it with other acids or retinoids.
If you wear heavy make-up or long-wear SPF, the Balancing Cleansing Emulsion 200mL (£41.80) is worth knowing about. On its official product page, ZO calls it a fragrance-, dye- and sulfate-free gel-to-milk cleanser, suitable for all skin types and especially sensitised and post-treatment skin. ZO also suggests it as a pre-cleanse on non-sensitised skin, followed by your usual water-soluble cleanser.
How ZO says to use it: cleanser morning and evening.
Step 2: exfoliate
The ZO Skin Health Exfoliating Polish 65g (£55.06) appears in both the all-skin-types and the dry and sensitised protocols. ZO describes it as a physical exfoliant with magnesium oxide crystals and stabilised vitamin C to help brighten the look of dull skin (official product information). Good Housekeeping named it “Best Anti-Aging” in its tested guide to the best face scrubs (updated 2024), noting it left skin silkiest in GH Beauty Lab testing.
For oily and blemish-prone skin, ZO uses the Dual Action Scrub 116g (£65.26) instead, a purifying gel that combines physical and chemical exfoliation.
How ZO says to use it: morning or evening, two to three times a week. Not every day. More is not better with exfoliation, and over-doing it is one of the most common reasons skin ends up red and tight.
Step 3: tone
In the all-skin-types protocol, the toner step is the ZO Skin Health Complexion Renewal Pads 60ct (£46.90): single-use pads that ZO says remove excess surface oil and pore-clogging debris, help brighten skin and clarify pores, with a non-drying formula (official product information). They won Best Chemical Exfoliator for Face in Cosmopolitan’s 2022 Acne Awards.
Oilier skin gets the Oil Control Pads 60ct (£55.06), which ZO lists with 2% salicylic acid to decongest pores and mattify. Dry and sensitised skin gets the Calming Toner 180mL (£36.70), which ZO describes as refreshing and soothing, with lightweight hydration after cleansing.
How ZO says to use it: morning and evening, after cleansing.
A simple Getting Skin Ready routine, day to day
Here is how the all-skin-types version looks in real life, using ZO’s published usage.
- Morning, around three minutes: Gentle Cleanser, then a Complexion Renewal Pad, then your Prevent + Correct product if you use one, then SPF. On two or three mornings a week, add the Exfoliating Polish after cleansing.
- Evening wind-down: if you wear make-up or SPF, pre-cleanse with Balancing Cleansing Emulsion, then Gentle Cleanser, then a pad. Keep exfoliation to the same two or three days a week in total, morning or evening, not both.
- Before an event: stick with what your skin already knows. A big event is not the moment to try a new scrub or acid for the first time.
- Travelling: pads are easy to pack, and skipping the scrub for a few days is fine. Do not skip SPF; ZO’s sun protection guide explains the Protect step, and the Daily Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF50 (£57.10) is listed on Faces.
If you would rather keep things even simpler, our guide on how to build a simple skincare routine in the UK covers the basics with any brand, and our facial cleanser round-up has more budget-friendly options.
Who uses ZO pads? What the press has reported
ZO’s Getting Skin Ready products have turned up in a few published routines. In a July 2024 Vogue Beauty Secrets video, Rita Ora used ZO Complexion Renewal Pads for a quick exfoliation after cleansing. In a 2020 ELLE UK interview, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley named the Complexion Renewal Pads in her routine and said ZO Oil Control Pads were the last beauty item she had bought.
These are dated, reported routines, not endorsements. Neither person has any relationship with Faces, and their results are not a guide to yours.
On the business side, Galderma announced on 14 October 2026 that it had signed an agreement to acquire ZO Skin Health, describing ZO as a reference name in professional skincare.
Where to buy ZO Skin Health in the UK, and stock
Faces is an authorised ZO Skin Health partner. ZO is a clinic-dispensed brand, so you can also buy it through clinics on ZO’s official partner finder or from the official UK ZO site.
Please note: on 12 November 2026, every ZO listing we checked on Faces was showing as out of stock, although each product page was live with a price. Check the product page for current availability before you plan your routine around it, and prices may change.
Some clinics build ZO routines alongside prescription-strength ingredients. Those are not covered here and are not sold through this guide. If you think you need something stronger, speak to a qualified professional; you can use Faces to find a prescriber near you and arrange a consultation, which may or may not lead to a prescription.
Why buy through Faces?
Faces is a booking system with a built-in pharmacy and marketplace. Clinics use the same platform to take online bookings, send digital consent and aftercare forms, and order stock from Faces Pharmacy and the multi-seller Faces client portal without leaving the system. The client portal you are browsing for ZO is the same marketplace clinics use for their own supplies.
If you run a clinic and want your patients to book, consent and shop in one place, you can create a free Faces account. For practical skincare and product videos, follow the Faces Pharmacy YouTube channel and Ash from Faces on YouTube, plus @facesconsentapp on Instagram and @facespharmacy on TikTok. You can also browse more skincare ranges you can shop on Faces.
Start your Getting Skin Ready routine
Begin with the protocol that matches your skin, introduce one product at a time, and give each a few weeks before you judge it.
Once your skin is ready, the next question is what to use for your skin type. Our guide to ZO Skin Health routines by skin type sets out simple routines for oily, dry, sensitive and redness-prone skin.
FAQs
What does Getting Skin Ready mean in ZO Skin Health?
It is ZO’s name for its first step: cleanse, exfoliate and tone. ZO describes it as the essential first step before its Prevent + Correct and Protect products.
Which ZO Getting Skin Ready products suit all skin types?
ZO’s all-skin-types protocol is Gentle Cleanser, Exfoliating Polish and Complexion Renewal Pads. Oily skin uses Exfoliating Cleanser, Dual Action Scrub and Oil Control Pads. Dry and sensitised skin uses Hydrating Cleanser, Exfoliating Polish and Calming Toner.
How often should I use ZO Exfoliating Polish?
ZO recommends it morning or evening, two to three times a week, not daily. Stop and seek advice if your skin becomes sore or irritated.
Can I use ZO Calming Toner with Complexion Renewal Pads?
ZO places them in different protocols: Complexion Renewal Pads for all skin types, Calming Toner for dry and sensitised skin. Most people pick one toner step that matches their skin rather than layering both.
Is ZO Skin Health in stock on Faces?
On 12 November 2026, the ZO listings we checked on Faces were live with prices but showing as out of stock. Check each product page for current availability.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have a skin condition, are pregnant, or are using prescription skincare, speak to a qualified professional before changing your routine. People named in this article have no relationship with Faces and do not endorse Faces.
Ashley James Simpson-Davies INP MSc RN